Associate Professor @npsia.bsky.social. Former advisor in the Government of Canada. Author of "Change in Global Environmental Politics" @cambridgeup.bsky.social. www.michaelmanulak.com https://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3mr3odh6tok2dIs "values-based realism" the right path for Canada? @MarkJCarney & @alexstubb push ad hoc coalitions, but it's a false choice. A realistic foreign policy demands effective multilateralism, not retreat. Check out my latest in @policymag.bsky.social https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-false-choice-behind-values-based-realism/20 Jul 2026 16:05 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3odh6tok2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3mcxwvy5um22pPM @mark-carney.bsky.social speech yesterday made clear: we’re in a period of rupture, not transition. Middle powers can’t rely on old assumptions. Much of the analysis closely echoes an argument Lloyd Axworthy, Allan Rock, and I made last year in Policy. https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-time-has-come-for-canada-to-hit-back/22 Jan 2026 00:35 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcxwvy5um22phttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lzglf7rxrs2pThe United Nations is facing its toughest test in decades—budget cuts & waning support. What role should Canada play at this crossroads? My new piece for the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. blogue.corim.qc.ca/un-crossroads/ https://blogue.corim.qc.ca/un-crossroads/22 Sep 2025 14:07 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzglf7rxrs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lxhpbvdxic2cAmid volatility, it’s tempting to respond with outrage. Stoics remind us that leadership is about clarity, discipline, & principle. Focusing on what we control. In @foreignpolicy.com, I explore how Stoicism can inform foreign policy today. There is a reason these ideas have survived for 2000+ years https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/18/foreign-policy-stoics-philosophy-virtue-justice/28 Aug 2025 13:59 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxhpbvdxic2chttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lnuynmpaf22lGoing to the polls today with foreign policy on your mind? Here is a comparison of the platforms of@mark-carney.bsky.social's @liberalca.bsky.social & Pierre Poilievre Conservatives. The difference is stark. They have very different visions for Canada's global role https://blogue.corim.qc.ca/election-foreign-policy/28 Apr 2025 14:39 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnuynmpaf22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lnndpq6qr224What would Stoics say about Donald Trump and current U.S. foreign policy? A thread on my new article in @foreignpolicy.com on Stoicism and foreign policy. It turns out that the Stoics can teach us a lot . I draw six main implications from Stoic ethics. 1/7 https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/18/foreign-policy-stoics-philosophy-virtue-justice/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=Zm9yZWlnbi1wb2xpY3ktc3RvaWNzLXBoaWxvc29waHktdmlydHVlLWp1c3RpY2U=&pid=PNIkD9KChsjnpu725 Apr 2025 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnndpq6qr224https://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lnkrt6ewa22pThe party platforms are out! On foreign policy, I summarize the @liberalca.bsky.social and Conservative Party platforms for the Montreal Council on Foreign Relartions. A thread below with some main findings (1/6): https://blogue.corim.qc.ca/election-foreign-policy/24 Apr 2025 13:10 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnkrt6ewa22phttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lnfqu7ij4s2iWhat foreign policy lessons can we learn from the Stoics? Many, it turns out. Check out my latest in @foreignpolicy.com, where I derive ancient lessons for the current period of global disorder. @npsia.bsky.social @balsillieschool.bsky.social @politicsoxford.bsky.social [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Apr 2025 13:10 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnfqu7ij4s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lnd4xuvrr22nSaddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. His pontificate was truly transformational. His climate advocacy & encyclical, Laudato Si, influenced the Paris Climate Conference. His emphasis on the poor and marginalized was a reminder to a world increasingly turning its back on them.21 Apr 2025 12:08 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnd4xuvrr22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3ln4dufztfc2mWhat can foreign policymakers learn from the Stoics? A lot, it turns out. In my latest with @foreignpolicy.com, I draw six lessons from Stoicism for the current political moment. How do Donald Trump and other current leaders measure up? Spoiler: Not very well. https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/18/foreign-policy-stoics-philosophy-virtue-justice/?utm_content=gifting&tpcc=gifting_article&gifting_article=Zm9yZWlnbi1wb2xpY3ktc3RvaWNzLXBoaWxvc29waHktdmlydHVlLWp1c3RpY2U=&pid=PNIkD9KChsjnpu718 Apr 2025 19:23 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln4dufztfc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3ljkmcwwodk2jLast month, Lloyd Axworthy, Allan Rock, & I wrote that Canada should mobilize a diplomatic coalition to push back on U.S. coercion. We called on our friends to back Canada. These calls are even more true today. Check it out! https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-time-has-come-for-canada-to-hit-back/04 Mar 2025 13:51 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljkmcwwodk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lhfde3k3is23Canada needs a diplomatic strategy to complement its economic measures to retaliate against any US tariffs. Lloyd Axworthy, Allan Rock, & I argue for convening the Alliance for Multilateralism to coordinate a firm response to US bullying. The Time has come for Canada to Hit Back. @npsia.bsky.social https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-time-has-come-for-canada-to-hit-back/05 Feb 2025 00:37 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhfde3k3is23https://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lhce3cbrz22q2024 was a disappointing year in global environmental politics and 2025 could be more challenging still. There is a need for renewed leadership in tackling a triple planetary crisis, including from Canada. Check out my latest article with the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal! https://blogue.corim.qc.ca/canada-green-diplomacy/03 Feb 2025 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhce3cbrz22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lhce3cbrz22q2024 was a disappointing year in global environmental politics and 2025 could be more challenging still. There is a need for renewed leadership in tackling a triple planetary crisis, including from Canada. Check out my latest article with the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal! https://blogue.corim.qc.ca/canada-green-diplomacy/03 Feb 2025 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhce3cbrz22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lecn4hytvk26This is absolutely worth a read. The risks of nuclear confrontation grow by the day and the institutions of arms control are withering. The world urgently needs to strengthen its disarmament diplomacy. We should not give in to cynicism. [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Dec 2024 18:38 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lecn4hytvk26https://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lcle3ru6sk2qI was honoured on Monday to receive a King Charles III Coronation Medal. It was a special privilege to have the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, a former prime minister and one of Canada’s great foreign ministers, there. Thank you to @senboehm.bsky.social for the nomination! Photo credit:Neil Valois Photography05 Dec 2024 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcle3ru6sk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lcdvb4moys2vI was delighted to host NPSIA's 6th Annual Ambassador's Panel in my seminar on Diplomacy & Foreign Policy. This year, we were honoured to have HE Rieaz Shaik (South Africa), HE Signe Burgstaller (Sweden), HE Nahida Sobhan (Bangladesh), & Dave Prodger(UK).02 Dec 2024 19:46 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcdvb4moys2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lc6yssdt622vICYMI: I have a new article out on Canada & the Trump admin. On Europe/NATO, climate, and nuclear disarmament, the new admin risks forcing allies to choose between the US & the order it helped create. I argue Canada should work with friends to reinforce multilateral norms, rules, and institutions. https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-allies-dilemma-responding-to-a-second-trump-term/30 Nov 2024 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lc6yssdt622vhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lbrzbk6qxs2kWhat are the implications of Trump's presidency for US allies? Trump's election forces allies to choose between the US and the order it helped create. In "The Allies' Dilemma," I look at the challenge to Europe/NATO, Climate, and Nukes. Some takeaways (thread 1/5). https://www.policymagazine.ca/the-allies-dilemma-responding-to-a-second-trump-term/25 Nov 2024 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbrzbk6qxs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelmanulak.bsky.social/post/3lbaku6uwbc2eDo you wonder how relevant the UN is to Canada today? @kerrybuck.bsky.social & I have you covered with two articles in IJ. We find that the UN is critical to Canada’s role in the world & must be central going forward. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/00207020241298266 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/0020702024129826518 Nov 2024 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:ynd2dd67o67fk4ot75txzbhp/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbaku6uwbc2e